CNN —Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, never experienced a ruinous population collapse, according to an analysis of ancient DNA from 15 former inhabitants of the remote island in the Pacific Ocean. Settled by Polynesian seafarers 800 years ago, Rapa Nui, today part of Chile, has hundreds of monumental stone heads that echo of the past. But that theory remains contentious, and other archaeological evidence suggests that Rapa Nui was home to a small but sustainable society. Easter Island genomesTo investigate Rapa Nui’s history further, researchers sequenced the genomes of 15 former residents who lived on the island during the past 400 years. But the ancient genomes add to a growing body of evidence that the idea of a self-inflicted population collapse on Easter Island is a false narrative, said Matisoo-Smith, who wasn’t involved in the study.

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Persons: Christopher Columbus ’, Jared Diamond, ”, J, Víctor Moreno, Raraku, De Agostini, Moreno, Mayar, Lisa Matisoo, Smith, Matisoo, wasn’t, “, ” Matisoo, Alphonse Pinart, Alfred Métraux Organizations: CNN, Easter, Mankind, French National Museum of, University of Copenhagen’s Globe Institute, Easter Islanders, New Zealand’s University of Otago, Polynesian, New Zealand’s Science Media Locations: Rapa, Easter, Americas, Rapa Nui, Chile, Paris, Peru, Denmark, American, South America, Columbus, Pacific, ”, French, Swiss